Pornpirom Chanthong, one of four staff in the Nonthasak Marine office, told police that she went to withdraw the money from the nearby Siam Commercial Bank branch and then popped into a minimart to buy something.
She did not notice anyone following her but when she got back to the office and sat at her desk, a man wearing a red jacket, grey soccer shorts and grey shoes walked in, showed her a knife and demanded she give him the money.
He then threatened other staff until they handed over their mobile phones, before walking out with his loot and racing off on his motorbike.
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Choti Chavalviwat, who visited the crime scene, said, “We believe the robber followed [Ms Pornpirom] from the bank; security camera footage shows a suspect riding a motorbike behind her.”
He ordered his officers to identify and arrest the robber as soon as possible.